Sean Payton Comments on Gun Laws After Will Smith's Death

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton voiced his displeasure with current handgun laws and the culture around them in the United States following Will Smith's murder over the weekend.

"I hate guns," said Payton, who coached Smith for six seasons in New Orleans, per USA Today's Jarrett Bell. "I've heard people argue that everybody needs a gun. That's madness. I know there are many kids who grow up in a hunting environment. I get that. But there are places, like England, where even the cops don't have guns."  

Payton's father worked as an insurance claims adjuster in Chicago, which meant he saw firsthand the aftermath and consequences of the city's gun violence.

"Two hundred years from now, they're going to look back and say, 'What was that madness about?'" Payton said. "The idea that we need them to fend off intruders...people are more apt to draw them [in other situations]. That’s some silly stuff we’re hanging onto."

According to New Orleans police, Cardell Hayes was driving a Hummer H2 on Saturday night and crashed into the rear end of a Mercedes-Benz SUV driven by Smith, per Lyons Yellin and Ramon Antonio Vargas of WWL-TV (via USA Today). After the two had a verbal argument, Hayes pulled out a gun and shot Smith. Authorities arrested Hayes and charged him with second-degree murder Sunday.